National Park Service

Difficult Choices Need to Be Made on the Future of the Parks Gao ID: T-RCED-95-124 March 7, 1995

The overall level of visitor services offered by the National Park Service is deteriorating. Visitor services are being cut back and the condition of many trails, campgrounds, exhibits, and other facilities is declining. The Park Service estimates that since 1988 the backlog of deferred maintenance has more than doubled to $4 billion. The following two factors have had a major impact on the level of visitor services and resource management activities: (1) additional operating requirements resulting from more than 20 federal laws affecting the parks and (2) an increase in the number of visitors. Since substantial increases in appropriations seem unlikely in today's tight budget climate, difficult choices must be made on the future of the national parks. These choices involve generating more revenue within the parks, limiting the number of parks in the system, and reducing the level of visitor services and expectations.



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